Vynasha’s vision turned red. Red like Wynyth’s roses, like the blood they’d shed to make new life. Red like her father’s lifeblood seeping into the river. Red like the ruby on the hilt of her dagger, glinting in the sun as she pressed its blade to the alpha’s neck.
Her first clear memory was of Ceddrych’s smiling golden face as he helped her cross the yard to Mother’s rose garden. A time when the land was in bloom and the world shone in her child’s gaze with an effervescent glow. Vynasha had seen magick in everything when she was still small, before Wynyth’s passing the following winter. “Watch over my little starling,” Mother had whispered with her dying breath. Ceddrych had only drawn Vynasha closer and sworn, “With my life.”
For those of you who weren't aware, Craving Beauty went live on July 14th! To help celebrate and spread the word about my new release, I partnered with Lola's Blog Tours for a fantastical tour. Our tour spanned over two weeks, full of reviews, guest posts by yours truly, and an aweseom giveaway. A thousand thanks to... Continue Reading →
“The Wylder Mountains are cursed, Beauty,” the beggar said with a harsh rasp. “and your kin could not leave of their own free will. I promised to find you, to tell you they yet live.”
Vynasha rocked with him beneath the barn overhang, within the snowdrifts, and whispered against his skin. She uttered forbidden words her mother had whispered to her deep in the night, in that strange musical tongue Vynasha had half forgotten. She remembered it now as the darkness stirred beneath her skin. “We must be careful, my starling,” Mother had made her promise. “Be oh, so careful. To give life, we must always sacrifice.” The little body in her arms did not grow cold as it should have. It shuddered against her in spasms. Vynasha squeezed her eyes tightly shut as the little hands clenched her arms in a tight grasp. Wyll sucked in a hoarse gasp as he breathed new life. The little boy whimpered and then spoke as though back from a long sleep, “Asha?”
Vynasha ignored the way the snow soaked through her house slippers. She’d forgotten her boots and her coat. But the darkness still clawed at her skin, begging to be set free. She didn’t dare turn back.
Cold, sickly terror woke her, followed by a desperate urge that demanded she leave the broken pieces of her mother behind.
“Yes...come now,” the voice sang with the wind, carrying snow and the heavy scent of ash through the edge of the forest.
Vynasha ignored the way the snow soaked through her house slippers. She’d forgotten her boots and her coat. But the darkness still clawed at her skin, begging to be set free. She didn’t dare turn back.
One thing I hope you take away from my meanderings, is to enjoy your life. Don't beat yourself up for missing the occasional deadline or falling out of habits. Sometimes, we structure our lives too much, so much that we forget how to be part of the world outside our screens. I hope you find ways to surround yourself with beauty this week. I hope you are inspired 🙂
On Tour with Prism Book Tours Book Tour Launch for Bound Beauty By Jennifer Silverwood Note from the Author Once upon a time I started writing a darker retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I had no clue what I was doing, of course. I had just come off the joys of publishing my first... Continue Reading →
Jennifer Silverwood 